Murdaugh is due to be sentenced today
Disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh has been found guilty of killing his wife and son to distract from allegations that he had been stealing from the family firm.
The 54-year-old was convicted Thursday on two counts of murder and two weapons-related charges after his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son, Paul, 22, were fatally shot on the family’s South Carolina estate in June 2021. The murders feature in a new Netflix series: Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal.
The jury also convicted him of two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, which carry five more years in prison, after the nearly six week trial.
BREAKING: The jury swiftly convicted disgraced lawyer #AlexMurdaugh of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. pic.twitter.com/FQllIkeKvW
— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) March 3, 2023
Murdaugh faces 30 years to life in prison without parole and is due to be sentenced on Friday.
Lawyers for Murdaugh moved for a mistrial after the verdicts were read, ABC reported, but the motion was rejected by the judge.
Last summer, Murdaugh was disbarred following charges of multiple financial crimes including the theft of about $8.8 million (£7.3m). He had been swindling money to feed an addiction to pain meds.
The jury was shown footage filmed by Paul in his last moments, with Murdaugh’s voice audible in the background.
Prosecutors said Murdaugh had killed his son with a shotgun, then turned a rifle to his wife when she ran to see what had happened.
Murdaugh’s supposed alibi was that he was napping and then went to visit his mother.
Lead prosecutor Creighton Waters said that Murdaugh had much to lose if his financial malfeasance was exposed but that the deaths of his wife and son promptly stopped the law firm’s investigation.
Prosecutors held a press conference and gave victory speeches after the jury convicted disgraced lawyer #AlexMurdaugh of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. pic.twitter.com/Wk2X6S3DKS
— Law&Crime Network (@LawCrimeNetwork) March 3, 2023
The synopsis for Netflix series, that became available for streaming late last month, reads: “The Murdaughs were one of South Carolina’s most prominent families, but the death of teenager Mallory Beach in a drunken boating accident began the unraveling of their legacy.
“When Paul Murdaugh – the alleged driver of the boat – and his mother Maggie are found brutally murdered, a century of corruption, power, and cover-ups in the Low Country is brought to light.
“The three-part series will feature first-hand accounts from those on the boat that fateful night, many of whom have not spoken about the crash or double homicide of Maggie and Paul until now, including: Paul Murdaugh’s longtime girlfriend, Morgan Doughty; Mallory Beach’s childhood friends, Miley Altman and Connor Cook; Mallory’s boyfriend, Anthony Cook; and, several others.”
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